Mandarin tree named ‘GCM 305’

ABSTRACT

‘GCM 305’ is a late-season maturing mandarin obtained by partial cross of the ‘KARA’ mandarin in Huelva, Spain. ‘GCM 305’ has medium-sized fruit which is essentially seedless and has good storage characteristics. The fruit is easy to peel, has a smooth rind texture, a dark orange color, a very rich sweet flavor, and a pleasant aroma.

Latin name of the genus and species: The mandarin cultivar of thisinvention is botanically identified as Citrus reticulata hybrid.

Variety denomination: The variety denomination is ‘GCM 305’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinctive mandarin hybrid cultivardesignated ‘GCM 305’, which was developed in Huelva, Spain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘GCM 305’ is a late-season maturing mandarin variety having medium-sizedfruit which is essentially seedless and has a rich flavor.

‘GCM 305’ is distinguished from other cultivars known to the inventor inthat it produces fruit that combine late-season maturity and medium sizewith an absence of neck. The fruit is easy to peel, has a smooth rindtexture, a dark orange color, a very rich sweet flavor, and a pleasantaroma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures depict various characteristics of ‘GCM 305’.

FIG. 1 shows fruit and foliage of ‘GCM 305’ taken at Huelva in February2013.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of ‘GCM 305’ fruit.

FIG. 3 shows the ‘GCM 305’ flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a two-year-old ‘GCM 305’ mandarin tree grafted on a fiveyears Carrizo citrange rootstock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

‘GCM 305’ was obtained by partial cross in Huelva, Spain, of the ‘KARA’mandarin (unpatented), which is a diploid of C. unshiu×C. nobilis(Citrus reticulata Blanco). The fruit was collected in December 2007,and seeds of the fruit were extracted and subsequently germinated duringJanuary 2008. About 350 seedlings were grown from the germinated seeds.Each seedling was grafted in March 2009 onto two-year-old Citrusmacrophylla rootstocks that had been planted in 10-liter pots.

The grafted plants were cultivated and the first fruit were observed inJanuary 2012. Observations of the fruits were made again in 2013. One ofthese 350 seedling was designated ‘GCM 305’.

An important characteristic of ‘GCM 305’ is that it is essentiallyseedless.

Studies of hand cross-pollination were made between ‘GCM 305’ and otherseeded and seedless varieties. For each combination, ‘GCM 305’ was usedas a female parent and as pollinator. The studies showed thatself-pollinated ‘GCM 305’ is seedless, whereas the parent variety ‘KARA’is seeded.

‘GCM 305’ is a late-maturing variety like its parent ‘KARA’, but unlike‘KARA’ the ‘GCM 305’ variety has seedless fruit.

All color descriptions herein are by reference to the color chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.)

-   Tree size and growth characteristics:    -   -   Size of tree.—Medium sized. A typical two-year-old tree is            1.80 meters high by 1.60 meters wide. A typical trunk            diameter in a three-year-old rootstock is 4 cm at 9 cm above            the ground.        -   Shape of tree.—Spheroid, erect-drooping similar to ‘KARA’.        -   Growth characteristic.—Vigorous growth.        -   Surface.—The trunk has a smooth surface texture and is            greyed-brown in color (RHS 197A).        -   Branch.—On average, the branches has a circumference of            1.2 cm. There are also, on average, three main branches per            tree, each having an average crotch angle of 55°. As with            the trunk, the branches have a smooth surface texture and            are greyed-brown in color (RHS 197A).        -   Internode length.—5 cm on average.        -   Branch flexibility.—Very flexible. Growing shoots have a            smooth surface texture, a circumference of 1.2 cm, strong            growth and a length of 80 cm to 120 cm. They are medium            green in color (RHS 147A) and are at angle of 65°. Dormant            shoots have a smooth surface texture, a circumference of            1-1.2 cm, a length of 60 cm to 80 cm. They are greyed-brown            in color (RHS 197A). and are at angle of 55°.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margins.—Slightly crenate.        -   Color and surface texture.—The adaxial (upper) leaf surface            is medium green in color (RHS 147A) and the abaxial (lower)            leaf surface is yellow green (RHS 146A). The leaf has            venation consisting of a cross-linked network formed by            anastomosis of the vascular bundles, in which smaller veins            diverge from the larger ones. The vascular system of the            leaf is distinguished by a prominent mid-vein (yellow green            RHS 146A). Most of the major side branch veins (medium green            RHS 147A) near the edge form a Y shape. Every branch vein            anastomoses with the other lateral veins. In the abaxial            surface veins are medium green (RHS 147A). The leaf upper            surface is smooth while leaf veins are prominent on the leaf            lower surface.        -   Bearing.—Evergreen.        -   Size.—Usually about 11.3 cm in length on average, and about            5.2 cm in width, on average. The leaves are at an average            angle of 45° with the branches, and are separated by 5 cm            from each other, on average.        -   Buds.—Are located on the petiole base; are round, 1.5 mm in            diameter, 0.5 mm in length, and yellow-green (RHS 146A).        -   Petioles.—No wing on the petiole. Usually about 13.6 mm in            length on average, and 1.5 mm in width, on average.-   Thorns: None.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower buds.—Ovoid is shape, with an average length of 11.6            mm, and an average width of 5 mm.        -   Opened flower.—Average length of 32 mm, with a typical calyx            diameter of 5.8 mm, and a typical citrus flower fragrance.        -   Time of flowering.—Early April in Huelva, Spain.        -   Type of flower.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Color of open flower.—White (RHS 155C) with coloring (RHS            158B) on the lower side of petals.        -   Flower grouping.—Solitary in a raceme arrangement at            axillary and terminal positions.        -   Number of petals.—5 to 6.        -   Petals.—Smooth and elliptic in shape, with an average length            of 13.4 mm and an average width of 6 mm. The petal tip is            acute in shape, while the base is truncate. The margin is            entire.        -   Number of anthers.—18-20.        -   Color of anthers.—Light yellow (RHS 8C).        -   Number of sepals.—5.        -   Sepals.—Basally connate, with smooth margin, medium green            (RHS 147A) in both surfaces, with average length of 3 mm.        -   Pedicels.—Usually about 8.2 mm in length on average, and 1.2            mm in width on average, medium green (RHS 147A).        -   Reproductive organs.—The style has a length of 7.7 mm, while            the style and the stigma are approximately 9 mm long. The            stamen has a length of 10.8 mm, the color being RHS 155C. On            average there is one style and one stigma, and 18 stamens            with anthers. Pistil number is one (stigma+style+ovary). The            ovary is round, on average 2.4 mm, and yellow green (RHS            146A).        -   Pollen.—Fertile. The pollen color is yellow-orange (RHS            15C). Degree of germination unknown.-   Fruit:    -   -   Time of fruit harvest.—Early February in Huelva, Spain.        -   Shape.—Obloid.        -   Albedo.—2.2 mm on average, white in color (RHS 155C).        -   Diameter.—76 mm, on average.        -   Length.—53 mm, on average.        -   Weight.—128 grams, on average.        -   Rind.—Medium orange (RHS 30B), with medium number of oil            glands. Thickness of rind at maturity is 2.5-3 mm.        -   Ease of separation of rind from fruit at maturity.—Medium.        -   Flesh.—Medium orange (RHS 28A), with fine texture.        -   Axis at maturity.—Medium.        -   Number of segments in a fruit.—9-10, well-developed segments            per fruit, with a medium coherence of adjacent wall            segments, and elongated juice vesicles of medium thickness.        -   Length.—85 mm on average.        -   Width.—47 mm on average.        -   Under self-pollination conditions.—Fruit are seedless.        -   Acidity/sweetness.—1% acid content/13° Brix.        -   Degree of juiciness.—51%.        -   Fruit production.—Begins at 2-3 years.        -   Storage characteristics.—Good for washed but unwaxed fruit.            Also good for waxed fruit. No loss of rind quality or color,            no loss in juice quality or deterioration in taste observed            upon storage. Quality of fruit well retained upon storage.            No indication of fungal or other disease upon storage.-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility:    -   -   Resistance to disease.—Tolerant to Citrus Tristeza (CTV) and            Alternaria spp., from observation to date.        -   Resistance to pests.—Is susceptible to aphids. mites, and            scales that are commonly present with mandarin trees.        -   Winter hardiness.—Similar to that of the parental.        -   Resistance to heat.—Similar to that of the parental.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct mandarin tree having thecharacteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein.